To guard against this, in 1538, he began to build a chain of expensive, state-of-the-art defences, along Britain's southern and eastern coasts from Kent to Cornwall, largely built of material gained from the demolition of the monasteries.
Much in our man-made structures is built of natural materials, and it must be remembered that these materials have natural colours and textures that usually are superior to anything man can create artificially.
Initially the slums were characterized by shelters built of scrap materials and by crowded, unsanitary conditions.
Moreover, the show was pleasing to the eye, built of humble materials on simple yet sophisticated lines.
Although modern in plan, the school is built of local materials, while the sun meets all its energy needs.
"There's little combustible vegetation here, good access and good water supplies," he said, "and the house is built of noncombustible materials".
Built of recycled materials and powered by solar panels and a wind turbine, the lodge's dive facilities are complemented by 12 rooms and 12 condos.
Wonderfully organic in character and form, it's entirely built of natural materials including mud, straw, wood and lime, using techniques borrowed from traditional English rural architecture.
But in the poorest regions, such as Kashmir, most houses are built of local materials by the people who then live in them.
